Starring
Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Ellar Coltrane,
Patton Oswalt, Bill Paxton, Glenne Headly. Directed by James
Ponsoldt. (2017, 110 min).
The ramifications of social media insinuating itself in every aspect of our
lives is an ideal - and chilling - concept for a timely thriller. But while it's certainly entertaining, The Circle only explores them on a superficial level.
The
Circle is a social media network that's like Facebook on crack.
Charismatic CEO Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks) envisions a future with no
secrets, and everyone can instantly know everything about anyone
else. He plans to accomplish this with SeeChange, a revolutionary
data-collecting camera that can literally be placed anywhere. Mae Holland (Emma
Watson) is new to the company and initially apprehensive over The
Circle's intrusion on her own life. But since they also take complete
care of her, as well as her MS-stricken father (Bill Paxton, in his final role), she's
soon all-in, eventually agreeing to becoming the poster child for the
company and spearheading their efforts to make create a world with
absolutely no secrets...or privacy (the argument being that people
will all behave if they know they're always being watched).
This
concept isn't exactly new to movies, but given the current proliferation of
social media (essentially rendering all of us Big Brother), the
opportunity for dark satire and social commentary is obvious. The Circle begins brilliantly, depicting the company's
thousands of eager young employees as mindless sheep - almost like
Stepford Children - whose intrusive behavior isn't too far removed
from what you'd see in a cult.
Hanks hits all the right notes as Bailey: equal parts salesman,
motivational speaker and preacher, with an outward congeniality that masks a
more sinister agenda.
 |
| People who talk during movies should be beaten. |
However,
the film becomes less effective once the focus shifts from the
dynamics of The Circle and its disciples to an obvious, heavy-handed message that invading one's privacy is morally wrong. We
don't really need another film to tell us this, but The Circle
treats the idea as though it were a revelation. Additionally, while
Watson is decent in the lead role, Mae's motives and personality
often change with little provocation, depending on what the story
requires. By the final act, she's become more of a plot device than a
character we're invested in.
Though
ambitious in both scope and message, The Circle doesn't
really live up to its potential or give the viewer anything new to
think about. Had it maintained the amusingly sinister tone established at the get-go, this could have been something special. Still, The
Circle is okay for what it is: a slickly made, enjoyable film, as
easy to consume as movie popcorn and just as memorable.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
FEATURETTES:
"No
More Secrets: Completing The Circle" - Making-of
documentary, divided into four chapters;
"The
Future Won't Wait: Design and Technology";
"A
True Original: Remembering Bill Paxton" - The Circle
ended up being Paxton's swan song, and this is a touching tribute
from Tom Hanks.
TRAILERS
DVD
& DIGITAL COPIES
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD...BUT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH MORE
No comments:
Post a Comment